It was a big snow year down in the Sierra, and its a low snow year up in the North Cascades. And he kayaked from Washington State to Skagway, Alaskaalso solo. During our interview later, I asked her about what its like in the heat of a skating or cycling race.How does she keep going when her brain is convinced she can win but her body is screaming and at its limit? I love bike camping and touring and will do it until the day I die. I just had a very strong sense of whatever I wanted to do at the time. After placing 10th in the 3000m, she won the bronze medal in the 5000m, just ahead of compatriot Cindy Klassen. With the pandemic still looming, she plays things day by day in terms of her new adventures, as well as listening to nature as to how she will plan her next trip, given some of the unpredictable weather all over the world. This brought her career medals total to six, tying teammate Cindy Klassen as the Canadian athlete with the most medals. He is the person Im closest to. But the lure of speed skating always remained for Hughes and she decided to return to her first love after the Sydney Olympics. I am still learning new things about him every day. It was their beer of choice because of the higher alcohol content, certainly not for the taste. To her, it looked like Boucher was floating on the ice. I didnt try it. Im lucky. The celebrated Olympian, 41, started on March 14 in Toronto and will finish on July 1 on Parliament Hill. I just feel in my gut its the right thing to do. Clara Hughes, OC OM MSC (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater who has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. I was going back into that place. We arent sponsored by anybody because we need to have a variety of foods and drinks or well get totally sick of them. In the 2000/2001 season, Hughes made a successful comeback to speed skating, participating in the World Single Distance Championships in Salt Lake City, where she finished 11th in the 3000m. Hughes is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games. I always go back to my first inspiration as a girl, watching the 1988 Calgary Olympics on TV and Gaetan Boucher was skating. My brains job is to try to overrule my body. This article was originally titled "Superhuman, yet so human" in the June 2014 issue of Best Health. And I just didn't care. Her early days certainly didn't foreshadow a speed skater who would donate $10,000 out of her own bank account to the humanitarian group Right To Play after winning gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics. The nice thing about bikes, versus hiking, is that the bikes go fast! the Olympian said. Inspired by Joey Cheek, who donated his gold medal bonus to Right to Play, Hughes donated $10,000 of her own money to Right to Play after her 2006 gold medal win in the 5000m.[22] (Canada did not give out medal bonuses at the time). So, how much is Clara Hughes worth at the age of 50 years old? We will not publish: Comments written that are poorly spelled; or are written in caps; or which use strange formatting to get noticed. I'm not doing this because, `Well, I'm good enough to go.' On April 7, 2010, she was made an officer of the Order of Canada. Clara Hughes - The Only Canadian Athlete Who Won Medals at Two Olympic Games - Canadian History for Kids - True Canadian Heroes. As a result of her success in multiple sports and her humanitarian efforts, Hughes was named to both the Order of Manitoba and as an Officer of the Order of Canada. He's the kind of guy who will spend a whole conversation asking you questions about yourself, never talking about himself unless asked. Listen and subscribe to get a weekly update with the newsmakers who matter. Please be advised: [40], On January 29, 2015, the official opening ceremony was held for a school named after Hughes. And so we're human and we butt heads, but that's just part of the whole process of appreciating her and learning from her.". I just wouldn't come home. We challenge each other, and we have a unique lifestyle, living in remote places. WebHer spouse is Peter Guzman. In 2008, Hughes was named an in motion Champion by the Province of Manitoba. Gold medal speed skater Clara Hughes is an inspired choice as the flag-bearer to lead the Canadian Olympic team after being able to transform her life with the help of sports. Clara Hughes was in charge of buying the beer. Its a really beautiful team environment. (I hadnt realized she is five foot nine.) We recommend our users to update the browser, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Best Health Magazine, May 2012; Photo courtesy Robertson/Velodramatic, 5 Cookbook Authors Share Tips for Getting Out of a Cooking Rut, 6 Great Spin Bikes that Cost Less Than a Peloton, Kickboxing Is the Fun, Full-Body Workout You Never Knew Youd Love. In 2006, she was the only Olympian to have won multiple medals at the Summer Games as well as at the Winter Games.[21]. A four-time participant of the women's Tour de France, Hughes has won the 1994 Women's Challenge and the 1997 Liberty Classic. She is a member of famous Skater with the age 50 years old group. Everyone were working with at Bell to make this happen genuinely cares, and has a sense of pride in what theyre doing here. She is entered in the time trial and road race disciplines. A six-time Olympic medalist in cycling and speed skating; shes the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games. On February 12, 2010, she was the Canadian Olympic Team flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Clara Hughes was in charge of buying the beer. I knew poverty existed but had never seen it. No exaggeration: This saved my life [shaking her head]. Many people say, Just get over it, but its not that easy. At the 2011 Pan American Championships, Hughes won the individual time trial and road race, both by a big margin. And my ultimate goal is for the right proportion of our healthcare dollars to be put toward mental health issues. On September 23, 2010, she received an honorary degree from the University of New Brunswick in a special Toronto ceremony. Clara Hughes @claraaanehughes, Heres Clara Hughes giving some tips on how not to speed skate. He has his own comfort zone. For a few Hughes was mostly walking, using her bike mostly for commuting or getting groceries. It could have been all about cycling through hard crosswinds, driving snow and exhaustion from March 11 to July 1, 2014. Id be thinking, Oh my God, youre at the Olympics. In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Manitoba, and in 2007, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2006, although she had not been asked, she announced she would not carry the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. "He's helped me develop and grow as a human being and just been there as my support and the love of my life and just my best friend. Clara: [She shrugs and looks a bit surprised.] We will not publish comments that link to outside websites. Discover Clara Hughes's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We have estimated I really got into hiking, Hughes said. Never say neverbut Im pretty darned sure! I got on this hiking rampage, walking kilometres and kilometres of trails. So we have a follow vehicle and well just drop back to it on our bikes and ask for a snack or whatever, and be handed bottles and unwrapped food while we ride. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 27 September. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Not enough? (Please note: For some informations, we [33][34], On June 8, 2010, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. But it didn't stop there. "I always try to go back to something that allows me to struggle and allows me to endure and allows me to feel just a very silent satisfaction of having gotten through.". "And so there I was, this undisciplined, pseudo-amoral girl, young adolescent, and this thing happened inside of me. Klassen set a new record in the same games, winning five medals in Turin, for a total of six. She earned her fifth Olympic medal at the 2006 Games, tying the total all-time Canadian medal count record, also held by Marc Gagnon and Phillip Edwards. On January 16, 2012, The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) announced Hughes as one of twenty women selected to the Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity list (MIW) for 2011. For example, when Clara won a gold medal in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006, she donated $10,000 of her personal earnings to RTPand this was before Canada was giving medal bonuses. After winning her gold medal in 2006, she donated $10,000 to Right to Play. Its an unheard-of featepic, as Hughes herself rightly describes it. A participant at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, Hughes won gold in the time trial (road, 2002), bronze in the points race on the velodrome (2002), and silver in the 50km team time trial (1994, with Alison Sydor, Anne Samplonius, and Lesley Tomlinson). [4] As of 2011, these were the only three cycling medals for Canada.[4]. I was wasting my life. In May 2011, she took first in the Tour of the Gila, winning two stages. Many burn out. JF: I understand you experienced some personal challenges growing up in Manitoba. Hes my rock; he brings me back to the light. I said, Dad, its Clara, did you see I won the bronze medal? He didnt know who I was. There is a plaque there in her honour describing her training and accomplishments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh. At those Olympics, she won her first gold medal in the 5000m and a silver medal in the team pursuit as part of the Canadian team. He likes being out in the woods alone or with just one person; hes done things like walk the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico solo. So I started working with a psychologist in early 2013. If you have trouble reading the characters in the picture, click it to see a new one. She started with speed skating, but in 1990 she moved to competitive cycling, competing in track cycling and road cycling. But were going with homemade as much as we can homemade rice cakes with nuts and honey; sandwiches. My legs feel strong and my mind is focused on making it to the finish line and helping end the stigma around mental illness. Im from Winnipeg, and its wicked. She has forged gold out of sheer guts, willpower and with some timely guidance along the way. I cant thank his care workers enough. I'm not proud of who I was. Bonnie: You were kind of a bad girl at the time, right?Clara: My parents split up when I was nine, and my mom raised my sister and me alone. Im definitely back in bike mode again. Each day means a ride of anywhere from less than 100 kilometres up to about 200, with most Sundays as rest days. Hes a beautiful man. She also won two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. [15] At the 2011 Pan American Championships, Hughes won the individual time trial and road race, both by a big margin. A post shared by Clara Hughes (@claraannehughes). Thats what this Ride is. After four years of little riding, Clara Hughes is in love with her bike again. Hughes rode across Canada to raise awareness about mental health and help end the stigma around mental illness. I want every person in the community or school to feel that their story is the most important one on this tour. It's only good enough to be the best that I can be and better than I ever have been. I value the energy we have to live the lives we love. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experienceand never miss an issue! Bonnie: What has your involvement in Right to Play meant to you?Clara: The first time I was in Ethiopia, it was overwhelming. is her 'greatest honour', Olympic champions in women's 5000 m speed skating, World champions in women's 5000 m speed skating, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clara_Hughes&oldid=1134275090, Speed skaters at the 2002 Winter Olympics, Speed skaters at the 2006 Winter Olympics, Speed skaters at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Canada, Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Canada, Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada, Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada, Pan American Games bronze medalists for Canada, Pages using Template:Post-nominals with missing parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 21:31. "Sport is definitely something that provided a value system for me, also just a moral base that I didn't have. She has a star on the Canada Walk of She finished 32nd, with the peloton, in the road race at the 2012 Olympics. The kids we help through RTP, they get a sparkle in their eyes, a light, and its what happened to me when I saw Boucher. Extra Old Stock. However, that time is still the Canadian record. [5] Hughes is one of only six people to have podium finishes in the Winter and Summer versions of the Games, and is the only person ever to have won multiple medals in both. Thank you for following these guidelines and contributing your thoughts. She was named Female Athlete of the Year by Speed Skating Canada in 2004 for long track. In an interview on CBC radio show Definitely Not the Opera, Hughes reveals that as a youth, she smoked cigarettes, drank a lot at a young age and did a lot of drugs, admitting she did not envision herself as an athlete. So its not an option. [25] Hughes uses her past struggles with depression to relate to others and to help combat issues including the stigma involved with mental health issues. It did., Since Bell Lets Talk Day on Jan. 28, #ClarasBigRide and #Bell_LetsTalk have been used more than 100,000 times. They just work all the time; they should laugh. But my dad was also an alcoholic. The doctor demystified it for me and told me what I needed to do and said, Were here for you.. Bonnie: Do you think youll have kids?Clara: No. Hughes would also have the good fortune of encountering coaches who would become her guides on an incredible journey that has seen her become the first Canadian to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. WebClara Hughes was in charge of buying the beer. Comments are not open on some news articles; Bell Media reserves the right to choose commenting availability. She is involved with Right To Play, which is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas. She tries to do it as much as possible, sometimes even solo. But her greatest teacher, Hughes says, is her husband Peter Guzman. She participated at the 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003 Pan American Games and won eight Pan American Games medals. "He lets you believe in the possibilities and never limit yourself to one way. We screen for comments that seek to spread information that is false or misleading. [38] The objective of the list is to focus on women who are leaders and role models making a difference on the Canadian or international scene. Its an initiative that grew out of the Bell Lets Talk campaign, for which Hughes is spokesperson; she herself has struggled with mental illness. A six-time Olympic medalist in cycling and speed skating, Hughes cycled across Canada in 2014 to raise awareness of mental health issues. I am still However, that time is still the Canadian record. My mom did the best she could with my sister and I, but we basically went wild after my parents separated. Another way is her generosity to charitable organizations, including Right To Play (RTP). If we can be outdoors, thats where well be. "What I'm seeing is we have a big problem in that the system is not there, and if it is there, it is not yet trusted for people to reach to," Hughes said. The thing about Clara, though, is that her passion extends way, way beyond winning medals. I speak to a sports psychologist or my husband. We made some bad choicesdrugs, smoking. Hughes uses her past struggles with depression to relate to others and to help combat issues including the stigma involved with mental health issues. 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